Fragments of a Broken Timeline [Book 3]

Ch.6 Show Stopper

"So, let me get this straight: You want four people to go and complete one mission. Explain, please." Rae said, folding her arms.

"Yes, Rae, I need for you, Rioichi, Yukina, and Murray to do this mission of retrieving Madam Geisha's outfit while she's away on vacation." Bentley explained.

"Why?" The fox then asked.

"I'll explain that part if it comes down to it. For now, put your kimono on and apply this makeup to your face, and don't forget to put your hair up too." Bentley said, handing Rae a pouch full of makeup.

"Wait, but I--"

"We don't have time! You four need to get going now!" The turtle rushed.

Rae just huffed, grabbing her kimono. "Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to enjoy this...?" She muttered to herself.

"Yukina, I'll have you stay hidden with Rae inside the Geisha House while Rioichi gets to the controls to unlock the outfit for Murray, who will be waiting on the roof for his cue. Meanwhile, while Rioichi is busy inside, I'll have you get Rae ready, Yukina, just in case things don't go as planned, which seems to be quite often nowadays..." Bentley mumbled the last part to himself, but everyone could still hear him.

"Umm..." Rae raised an eyebrow.

"Just get going!" He then hurried.

"Alright, alright, we're going, sheesh..." The four then made their leave.

Once they all made it to the Geisha House, Rioichi was the first to get to the roof, followed by the two foxes, and then Murray, who would have to wait up there anyway. Once Rioichi opened the hatch, Yukina and Rae entered first, quickly going to hide somewhere so they could prepare Rae. Rioichi then dropped in through the hatch, only to find guards all around the area. It was then his binocucom went off, finding Bentley trying to contact him.

"Rioichi, it appears that Madam Geisha's outfit is locked inside that large container. Although, you'll probably want to stay off the floor in here; no sense in alerting the guards."

"Of course. Does a cat alert the rats?"

"Uhh, right... Okay, so we can get in through the top, but judging from the lock mechanism, it appears to be opened remotely. I'm going to need you to locate and activate the control device, and it looks like the door to the first wing is open, so there's bound to be one in there, as well as some traps... Just be careful." Bentley explained.

"Arigatou, Bentley-san." Rioichi then disconnected, examining the Geisha outfit for a moment, only to frown. "I do not see how Murray-san will fit into that outfit... Perhaps he is very flexible?" Rioichi then made his way up to the balcony for the second floor to head into the first wing.

Meanwhile, Rae and Yukina had hidden themselves behind large curtains on a stage that had been placed in the front area of the Geisha House. Rae sighed as she began to undress herself to put on her kimono. "I swear, this is ridiculous..." She said irritably. "I don't understand why I even need to be here." Rae said as she removed her gloves and her boots.

Yukina just gave a light chuckle. "Perhaps on the off-chance that this situation does not pan out the way it should, you will be here to pose as the, dare I say, distraction so that Murray-san can get out of sight? Though, this is merely my own theory, of course."

"I know, but still... If things do go according to plan, then I'm basically wasting my time by being here. Then again, knowing my luck..." Rae said, now trying to put the kimono on in a way that wasn't too revealing. "Ugh... I can't tie this ribbon without the kimono slipping off..." She then huffed. "This is annoying..."